Electrical announcing system for apartments



Nov. 14, 1933. L. SCHWARTZ ELECTRICAL ANNOUNCING SYSTEM FOR APARTMENTS Filed April 16, 1950 T n 1 W 1 E m m m F/ w i WW2 n MM l j f C m" u m4 m 7 *0 Li. f /fl l 1 m 4 W i MR1. Z 4 T w j I 1.; Lr lLr l l l l IIL Patented Nov. 14, 1933 ELECTRICAL ANNOUNCINGF SYSTEM FOR APARTMENTS LouisSchwartz; Chicago, 111. I 'Application April 16, 1930. Serial No. 444,669 ro aim. o '1. 177-311) This' invention relates to an electrical announcing system for apartments and more particularly to improvements on the announcing system disclosed in my co-pending application filed July 1'7, 1929, under Serial Number 378,826.

The main object of the invention is to provide an announcing system for use in conjunction with a conventional electric vestibule or outer door lock of the type which may be operated from any apartment, whereby a caller may signal the inmate of the apartment he wishes to visit so that the inmate of said apartment may unlock the door for him, the unlocking of the door being accompanied by the operation of a visible or audible signal in the apartment which signal increases in relative intensity of visibility or audibility when the caller has entered and closed the door behind him thus notifying the apartment inmate that further operation of the door lock is not needed. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an announcing system of the class described which will require the use of fewer connecting wires between the apartments and vestibule than are used in the system disclosed in the above mentioned co-pending application and which may be readily and conveniently used with the door locking system now in use.

A further object is to provide an announcing system in which a visible or audible signal may be connected with the door lock in such manner that a person wishing to enter the door will be notified when said doorhas been unlocked.

The foregoing and other objects together with means whereby the same may be carried into eifect will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing:

The drawing represents a diagrammatic view of the announcing system showing the arrangement and wiring of the various elements in two apartments and a vestibule, said apartments and vestibule being illustrated by rectangles in broken lines.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the reference character A designates the vestibule of an apartment house and B and C designate two apartments therein, the same being here shown as rectangular spaces enclosed by dotted lines.

In carrying out the invention two push button switches 1 and 2 are mounted in the vestibule A one for each apartment B and C and these switches are connected by a wire 3 to one terminal' of a battery 4 or other source of either direct or alternating current. Conventional door bells, buzzers or other signals 5 and 6 are mounted one in each of the apartments B and C and are connected by a wire 7 to the terminal ofthe battery 4 opposite that to which the wire 3 is connected. A wire 8 connects the push button 1 and bell 5 and a wire 9 connects the bush button 2 and bell 6 in such manner that the bell may be rung in either of the apartments by manipulation of the proper push button. The reference numeral 10 designates the operating electromagnet of a conventional electric door lock which is adapted to unlock or look the vestibule or entrance door, a portion of which is represented by the dotted lines 11. Signal lights 12 and 13 are mounted one in each apartment. B and C and the sameare.

shunted by resistances l4 and 15, the value of which is a fractional part of the resistance of signal lights'l2 or 13 and are connected by a common connecting wire 16 to one terminal of the eleotromagnet 10. The other terminal of the electromagnet 10 is connected by a wire 17 to the terminal, of the battery 4 to which the described wire 3 connects. are mounted one in each of the apartments B and C and are connected by wires 20 and 21 to the wire 7 terminating at the battery 4 and to the heretofore free terminal of the lights 12 and 13 as shown.- provided, the same comprising a spring set switch arm 23, is connected to one terminal of the electromagnet 10 and is engaged by the door 11 to be normally held thereby out of engagement with a contact 24 connected to the other terminal of i9 Push button switches 18 and 19 I A door lock shorting switch 22 is the electromagnet. The arrangement is such that y when the door 11 is closed the door lock shorting switch 22 is opened and when the door a 11 is opened the switch 22 is closed.

In the operation of the system the caller upon entering the vestibule A presses for instance the push button 1 ringing the bell 5 in apartment B. The inmate of that apartment then presses the button 18 closing the circuit from the battery 4 v to the door lock electromagnet 10 unlocking the .door. .At this time the resistance 14 being in shunt with the light 12, their combined resistance is low, comparatively zero. Therefore the combined resistance of these elements does not appreciably reduce the flow of current to thedoor its ing out the electromagnet 10. This action applies the full voltage of the battery 4 across the light 12 and resistance 14 causing the said light 12 to 1 burn brightly notifying the inmate of the apartment that the caller has entered. Inmate of apartment now releases the push button 18 returning the circuit to its inoperative position. The operation is the same for the apartment C and for any number of apartments and it is obvious that only the bell and signal light in the apartment the caller wishes to visit is operated.

The signal lights 12 and 13 may be replaced with other suitable visible or audible signals and either a visible or audible signal may: be connested in shunt with the electromagnet 10 to notify the caller that the door lock has been operated so that he may enter.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In an announcing system for use in connection with a door, having an electric lock including an operating electromagnet, a switch arranged adjacent the door and operable thereby to short circuit said electromagnet when the door is and will act as a current limiting device for the lamp when the electromagnet is not short circuited and when short circuited, will permit the lamp to glow at full brilliancy.

LOUIS SCHWARTZ.

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